Compare towns
Thomaston vs Killingly vs Dedham vs Ashford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thomaston has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Ashford has the youngest population (median age 37.9).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Thomaston | Killingly | Dedham | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,492 |
17,867 |
25,237Highest |
4,226Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.5±7.7 7% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Dedham and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Thomaston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,218±$15k 28% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$121,926±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $282,600±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$334,800±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,037±$147Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,246±$208 12% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,915 90% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$6,982 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.9%±22Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thomaston and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #106 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #119 of 282 in MA | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thomaston School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Dedham | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | Thomaston High School | Killingly High School | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
11.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.